Recoil-checking device



March 20, 1928. 1,663,022

D. D. MYERS RECOIL CHECKING DEVICE Filed June 26. 1926 Patented Mar. ,20, 1928.

UNITED "STATES PAT DON D. MYERS, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO MONROE AUTO EQUIPMENT HANU FACTUBING 00., OF MONROE, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION .OF MICHIGAN.

nncorn-cnnoxme DEVICE.

Application filed-June 26, 1928. Serial No. 118,656.

This invention relates to devices for nse particularly in connection with automobiles to check or minimize the recoil or rebound movements of the bodies thereof occasioned '5 by passage of the vehicle over irregular surfaces.

The object of the invention is the prov sion of a device of this character which is simplified and improved over those heretofore used both as to operation and construction, whereby to enhance the practicability and commercial value thereof.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, and one embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,- I

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a device embodying the invention with the cover removed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof 20. with a art in central vertical section. Fig. 3 is a etail of the inner end portion of, the lever member of the device, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the device with the cover removed and with the lever member fragmentarily shown andpartially inserted into assembled position relative to the body.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates .the body of a device embodying the invention, which body is hollow and fashioned to form a chamber 2, and at one side thereof a cylinder 3 separatedfrom each other by a wall 4, which at itslower end extends under the cylinder to form a bottom 5 therefor that is spaced above the bottom 6 of the chamber 2. The body has a removable cap 7 secured to its top by screws 8 or in any other suitable manner and closing-the upper ends of the chamber 2 and cylinder 3 to the outside. The

chamber2 forms a storage space for a noncompressible liquid, such, for instance, as oil,

and this enters the cylinder 3 through a port opening 9 in its bottom and normally assumes or tends to assume the-same level in both chambers and cylinder. The port 9 is 5 normally closed by an inwardly opening check valve constituting, in the present/instance, a ball 10.

A piston 11, is provided in the cylinder 3 and is hollowed'out at its underside to reso ceive the upper end of a coiled compression spring .12, the lower endof which extends down from the piston and seats against the bottom 5 of the cylinder.,

It is evident that any downward movement of the piston within the cylinder 3 is the'latter, which is prevented ;by the valve 10 from passing out through the port 9 into the chamber 2. "Aproperly regulated leak-- age or passage of-liquid from the cylinder 3 to the chamber 2 is provided, however, through a port 13Fin the lower portion of the wall 4, which port is closed to any desired extent by a valve 13 that is threaded through one side of the body 1 and is manually adjustable from without the same.

A shell 14; is mounted in the bottom portion of the cylinder 3 and has its upper portion air tight and terminating a suitable distance below the piston 11 so as not to interfere with the reciprocatory movements thereof. The lower end of the shell, in the present instance, is open and mounted on the bottom 5 of the cylinder around the'ball 10 and is provided with inturned tongues 15, which serve both to provide stops for coaction' with the ball 10 to limit the opening movements thereof and also to provide openings 16 in the shell side near its lower end for the free passa e of liquid between the interiors of the she I and cylinder. This shell serves at its lower end as a cage for the valve 10 and forms a' chamber 17 at its upper end for retaining a quantity of air or 0t e'r suitablefluid of a'compressible nature. closedagainst the escape of air therefrom by the non-compressible liquid in'the body.

The lower end of'the chamber 17 is Theprovision of the compressible fluid in the chamber 17 serves as a consuming means" i force is. communicated to the entrapped air" 17 through the non-compressible liquid in the chamber which acts as a liquid piston. In the present instance, the shell 14 extends up within the spring 12 and is provided at its lower end with a foot flange 18, against which the lower end of the ring seats. isthus evident that the shell 14. is held in positionwithin the cylinder 3 by the spring.

The lever means of the device comprises a trunnion or shaft portion 20 that is adapted to be inserted into and across the chamber 2 of the body 1 and has a large journal portion 21 at one end for journaling in a bearing opening 22 in the outer side of the body 1, and at its other end is provided with a reduced stud portion 23 for journaling into a bearing 24 provided in axialalignment with the opening 22 in. the side of the chamber 2 epposed to that in which said opening is isposed. The trunnion 20- is provided near its inner end, or that from 5" which the stud 23 projects, with a laterally projecting an led or curved finger 25, which works throug an opening 26 in the upper end portion of the wall 4 and is adapted to bear at its free end against the upper end of the piston 11. I

Whenthe finger 25 is projected through the opening 26 in usable position, it has side coaction with a thickened or enlarged portion 27 of the wall of the opening 26 that'is' adjacent to the body opening 22 and revents, a withdrawal of the trunnion rom -its bearing in the body member.

When the cap 7 is removed from the body 1 the finger 25 may be swung upward sufii- 20 ciently to pass the shoulder 27 and permit a withdrawal of such finger and its trunnion from within the body, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The striking of the finger 25 against the cap 7 when in position on the body pre- 25 vents the finger from swinging back a sulficient distance to pass the shoulder 27 and ermit the withdrawal of the trunnion and f inger from thebody. The trunnion 20 is cut away or recessed at the base portion of 30 the finger, as shown at 28, to permit a threading of the finger and trunnion through the body opening 22 into properly I assembled position within the body. It is .thus evident that when the parts are as- 235 sembled and the cap 7 is in osition on the body, the trunnion 20'is hel to its bearing in the body and prevented from removal therefrom by the coaction of the'finger 25 with the body shoulder or enlargement 27.

The trunnion 20 at its outer end is provided with a lever arm 29 which is adapted to have engagement at its outer end with a strap or other draft member 30, so that when a force is applied to the lever arm by 4 a pull on such member, such force is communicated to the upper end of the piston 11 by the thrust engagement of'the finger 25 therewith, as is well understood in the :use of apparatus of this character.

The outer end of the lever arm is provided with an enlargement 31 having an opening 32 provided with a cross-bar 33, the outer end wall of the opening bein broadened and fashioned to present a curve bearing surface 34.v The draft 30 is of strap form and is intended to be looped around the cross-bar 33 with .its freeend portion disposed between the body of the strap andthe surface 34 so that an operating pull on the strap will cause a firm gripping of the end portion thereof against said surface. A clamp 35 is also provided around the body portion of the strap and the said end so as to retain the parts in proper adjusted position. In the use of this device in connection with an automobile, it will be understood that the body member 1 is secured to a chassis frame, designated 36 in Fig. 1, by bolts 37 or in any other suitable manner and the outer endof the stra or draft member 30 is then anchored to tiie adjacent axle of the vehicle. As the chassis frame lowers from normal position relative to the axles thele-ver arm 29 will be permitted to rise, permitting an upward movement of the II))lStOI1 11 under the action of the spring 12.

uring this movement, the liquid from the chamber 2 is quickly drawn into the cylinder through the valve opening 9. Upon the recoil or rebound movement of the chassis the -strap 30 exerts a downward pull on the lever arm, but a sudden movement thereof is prevented by the engagement of the finger with the piston 11, the movement of which is resisted by the non-com ressible liquid in the cylinder, except as sue liquid is permitted to slowly escape from the cylinder through the restricted opening 13 The sudden resisting shock of the piston 11 against a movement of the lever means is overcome to some extent, however, by the provision of air or other compressible fluid within the upper portion of the shell 14 which cushions the thrust of the non-compressible liquid thereagainst. It is evident that a liquid piston is formed by the liquid within the cylinder 3 which prevents any downward movement of the piston 11, except such as is permitted by the-compression or cushioning action of the air within the shell 14 and by the slow escape of the liquid from the cylinder through the opening 13.

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specific construction, arrangement or form of the. arts, as 'it is capable of numerous modifications and changes Without departing from the spirit of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

1. In a device of the class described, a "body, a. lever means, and a piston means resisting j'movement of the lever means in one direction, said body and lever means having coaction to prevent separation thereof except when the lever means is, in a predetermined position relative to the body.

2. In a device of the class described, a body, a iston means in the body, and a unitary ever means carried by the body and acting against the iston means, said lever means being journa ed in the body and having coaction therewith to retain the lever means and body in assembled relation, except when the lever means is in a predetermined position of its movement relative to the body.

.3. In a device of the class described, a body, a piston means in the body and a unilot tary lever means carried by the body and actlng against the piston means, said lever means being journaled in the body and having coaction therewith to retain the lever means and body in assembled relation exce t when the lever means is 1n a predetermined position of its movement relative to the body, said body comprising means to prevent the movement of the lever means to said releasable position.

4. In a device of the class described, -a body having a removable cap member at one end thereof, piston means mounted in the body, and lever means journaled in the body and having its movement resisted in one direction by the piston means, said lever means and body having cooperating parts which prevent a removal of the lever means from the body, except when the two are in predetermined relative positions, the movement of the lever means from operative position to said releasable position being prevented by the cap when in position.

5. In a device of the class described, a hollow body, piston means in the body, means regulating the movement in one direction of the piston, a unitary lever means journaled in the body and adapted to act on the piston to move it in said regulated direction, said lever means having a laterally projecting finger within the body for acting against the piston means and said body having a part at a side of said finger to coact therewith to prevent removal of the lever means froin the body, except when the finger is in inoperative position with respect to the piston means, said body comrising removable means coacting with said ger to prevent movement thereof from operative position. v

6. In a device of the class described, a hollow body having an opening through one side thereof and a bearing in the opposite side thereof axially aligned with said opening, a unitary lever means adapted to be threaded through said opening and to be journaled therein and in said bearing and having a laterally projecting finger within thebody, andan arm without the body, said finger and body coacting to revent removal of' the lever means from t e body exceptwhen said finger is in one position relative to the body, piston means within the body coacting with said finger to resist a movement in one direction of the lever means, said body comprising removable means coacting with the lever 'means to prevent a movement thereof to' releasable position.

7. In a device of the class described, a body having a bearing opening therein, a lever means carried by the body in said opening and removable as a unit therethrough, and means within the body yieldingly resisting a movement of the lever means in one direction, said body having provision for releasably retaining the lever means in assembled relation thereto.

8. In a device of the class described, a hollow body having a bearing opening therein, a lever means carried by the body in said opening and'removable as a unit therethrough, said means having a pivot part for extending through a wall of the body and journalling therein, a short arm within and a long arm without the body, means within the body for yieldingly resisting a movement of the lever in one direction and including a fluid, and means cooperating with the body to releasably retain the .lever means in operative engagement therewith.

9. In a device of the class described, a body having a chamber therein with a bearing opening in one side and an axially aligned bearing part in the other side, a lever means, a piston means resisting movement of the lever means in one direction, said lever means adapted to be placed in operative relation to the body member by threading through said bearing opening and having bearing portions engaging the respective bearing portions of the body memher, said body member having provision for der, means operable to impart movement to the piston to exert pressure on the liquid in the cylinder, and a shell confined within the 'bottom ortion of the cylinder in communication t erewith and containing in a part thereof a compressible fluid against which the liquid cushions.

11. In a device of the class described, a. body having achamber and a cylinder therein, with a valve controlled opening therebetween disposed in the bot-tom of the cylinder, a valve disposed within the cylinder and normally closing said opening, a shell seating over the valve to serve as a cage therefor and having, a chamber in its'upper portion containing a compressible fluid and in communication with the interior of the cylinder through its lower portion whereby liquid in the cylinder may enter the shell and have thrust coaction with the oompremible fluid in the shell, and load receiving means carried by the body and including a piston operating in the cylinder and having its movement-in one direction resisted by the liquid in the cylinder.

12. In a device of the class described, a body having a cylinder and a chamber with valve controlled inlet and outlet openin s therebetween, the'inlet opening to the cy inder being disposed in therbottom thereof,

' seating over the valve to serve as .a cage pressible fluid and "in communication with the interior of the cylinder whereby liquid in the cylinder may enter the cage and have therefor and having a :chamber in its upper ortion'containin a com ressible fluid and P g g in communication with t 0 interior :of the cylinder through. its lower portion whereby liquid in the cylinder may enter the shell and have thrust :coaction with the fluid in the shell, and load receiving means carried by the body and including a piston operating in the cylinder and having its movement in one direction resisted by the liquid in the cylinder. i

1 13, In a device of the class described, a body having a chamber and a cylinder therein, with an opening therebetween, a load receiving means carried by the body and including a piston operating in the cylinder and having its movement in one direction resisted by, liquid in the cylinder, a valve in said opening adapted to open b fluid pressure to permit a ready flow o fluid from the chamber to the cylinder when the piston is moved away from said opening, and means forming a cage for the valve and having a chamber in a part thereof containing a comthrust .coaction with the compressible :fluid in the shell. 7

.14. In a device of the class described, a body having a bearing opening therein, a lever means, means within the body yielding'ly resisting the movement of the lever means in one direction, said lever means adapted to be placed in operative relation to said body "by threading through said bearing opening, and means for retaining the lever means in assembled relation with said body.

15. In a device of the class described, a body having achamber-therein with :a hearing opening in one side and an axially aligned bearing part in the other side, a

lever means, a piston means resisting movement of the lever means in one direction, the said lever means adapted to be placed in operative relation to the body member by threading through said bearing opening and having said bearing portions engaging the respective bearing portions of the body member,'and means for retaining the lever meansin assembled relation with said body.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

no 1). MYERS. 

